New Kids On The Block

In 1989 when I was 12 years old, the thing that I wanted most was tickets to a New Kids On The Block concert.  I had all their tapes, yes I said tapes, and listened to them until they were worn out.  I told my Mom they would be around forever.  She assured me that they wouldn't be.  I never got to see them in concert and they did, in fact, break up a few short years later.

I never forgot the five boys from Boston (Donnie, Danny, Jonathan, Jordan, and Joey), who were my first loves.  Anytime I had a party at my house, you could be sure I would be playing "The Right Stuff" and doing the dance.  I played it so often that my niece, Chloe, who is now 7, counted "The Right Stuff" as her favorite song at age 4.  My tapes had long been worn out, but I had every song on Napster.

Fast forward to 2008.  After exploring solo music careers, acting careers (movie, television, and Broadway), and real estate careers, they decided it was time to again grace the world with their presence.  They released a new CD "The Block" and booked a small reunion tour. 

I was lucky enough to get tickets to their first stop in Cleveland.  I got the tickets for my birthday, from my husband.  The person who was supposed to go with me, couldn't last minute, so my husband begrudgingly went along.  When they started singing "The Right Stuff" I literally started trembling like a 13 year old girl, I cried, and nearly wet myself.  My husband plugged his hears for most of the concert.  Not because of the music, but because the screaming of women in their 30's and 40's was rendering him deaf (he was one of maybe 5 men at the concert).  Our ears were ringing for days after. 

I came home from the concert that night, declaring it the best night of my life, and immediately began searching for their future concert dates.  This is where the madness began.  I have since been to 9 more concerts (for a total of 10).  Not all concerts are the same, the set list does change in each "section" of the tour. They never intended to be touring 3 years later, but people keep coming so they keep dancing. 

They are great performers, and their new music is excellent (they do not lip sync).  However, the thing that has drawn me to the 10 concerts and what will draw me to many more concerts, is that I am getting to live out my childhood dream.  Every time I attend a concert, I am again 12 years old (How many 12 year olds drink?).  I am very fortunate.  Not many people get to live out their childhood dreams. 

What was your childhood dream?

This picture was taken at Blossom.  My 6th concert.